Device for folding the edges of roof cutouts for motor vehicle sliding roofs

ABSTRACT

The application relates to a device for folding the edges of roof cutouts for motor vehicle sliding roofs in which the coachwork has an outer (1) and an inner (3) panel, each with an upwardly projecting flange (2, 4) limiting the roof cutout and the flange of the outer panel is wider than that of the inner panel. In a device for folding the edges of the cutout for sliding roofs, there is a fold bed (5) as the support for the outer panel and the inner panel arranged thereon, an abutment (8) on the side of the roof cutout for the flange of the outer panel and the flange of the inner panel bearing thereon, a filler slide (9) arranged above the fold bed and movable against the abutment or the flange and a multi-component folding slide, the folding slide components (14, 16) of which can be moved both parallel and perpendicularly to the plane of the roof cutout, and have folding strips (19) to engage and fold the section of the flange of the outer panel projecting beyond the flange of the inner panel.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a device for folding the edges of roof cutoutsfor motor vehicle sliding roofs in which the coachwork has an outer andan inner metal plate, each with an upwardly projecting flange limitingthe roof cutout and in which the flange of the outer metal plate iswider than that of the inner metal plate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The outer metal plate of the coachwork is connected to the inner metalplate by folding the flange section of the outer metal plate whichprojects beyond the upwardly standing flange of the inner metal plateover the flange of the inner metal plate. It takes two work cycles, thatmeans edging by 90° and subsequent folding; in practice these two workcycles are executed with different devices or, if required, by hand,calling for extensive manipulation of the coachwork metal plate.

Previously known from DE 44 18 684 A1 and DE 44 12 232 A1 are borderingprocesses and corresponding bordering devices for preliminary and finishbordering of coachwork parts, where a radially movable slide toestablish a bordering union is provided at a pressing tool, thepre-bordering edge of which can be moved towards the outside to executethe subsequent finish bordering. Here, too, a bordering union of theparts is effected in a first transformation phase of the pressing toolby means of a pre-bordering edge of a movable slide; subsequently theslide moves radially towards the outside. In a second transformationphase of the pressing tool a second bordering tool with a bordering edgeeffects a finish bordering of the parts to be united.

SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is the primary object of the invention to execute the 90° edging andsubsequent folding of edges of roof cutouts for sliding roofs in onedevice.

This task is solved by a device of the species described above which ischaracterized by a folding bed serving as support for the outer metalplate and for the inner plate arranged upon it and an abutment arrangedat the side of the roof cutout. The abutment serves for the flange ofthe outer metal plate and the flange of the inner metal plate restingagainst it. A filling slide is arranged over the folding bed and movableagainst the abutment and/or flanges, a multiple-part folding slide, thefolding slide part of which can be moved both parallel to the plane ofthe roof cutout and orthogonally to it, each provided with foldingstrips to engage and fold the section of the flange of the outer metalplate projecting beyond the flange of the inner metal plate.

For folding of edges of a roof cutout for sliding roofs of motor vehiclecoachworks (body) the outer metal plate provided with an upwardlyprojecting flange limiting the roof cutout is laid on the folding bed.The inner metal plate which is also provided with an upwardly projectingedge is laid on it. The flange of the outer metal plate finds itssupport in the abutment. The flange of the inner metal plate is heldwith the filling slide against the flange of the outer metal plate andthus against the abutment. Then the folding slide parts will be soadjusted that the undersides of their folding strips are mainly flushwith the upper edge of the upwardly projecting flange of the inner metalplate and plate thickness of the outer metal plate and the folding slideparts will be so moved that the outer metal plate flange sectionprojecting beyond the flange of the inner plate is initially folded byapproximately 90° beyond the upper edge of the flange of the innerplate. Subsequently the filling slide will be removed and/or so movedthat the folding slide parts are moved parallel to the upwardlyprojecting flange of the inner metal plate, thus folding the projectingflange section already folded by 90° parallel to the flange of the innermetal plate.

In a preferred layout of this invention the folding bed has got a recesscorresponding to the roof cutout and is arranged in the recess of theannular-shaped abutment. For assembly considerations it can be expedientto have an abutment that can be moved orthogonally to the plane of theroof cutout in the recess.

The filling slide may also be of a multi-component structure, with thefilling slide parts being mainly movable in parallel to the plane of theroof cutout. It is recommendable to apply a layout in which the fillingslide parts are arranged along the straight edges of the roof cutout andare movable towards the roof cutout. Besides, the filling slide partsshould extend along the straight edges up into the corner areas of theroof cutout and have side areas at least in some sections which arearranged at an angle of 45°. Thus it is ensured that the flanges of theouter and inner metal late are sufficiently held in the comer areasbetween the abutment and the filling slide parts, too.

To ensure that the first folding procedure, that means the folding ofthe projecting flange section of the outer metal plate by 90' proceedsin a defined manner, it is advantageous for the filling slide parts tohave an edge strip at the roof cutout side serving as folding abutmentfor the folding strips of the folding slide parts. These edge strips areremoved together with the filling slide parts prior to the start of thesecond folding procedure.

In a preferable layout of this invention the folding slide parts arearranged in the area of and over the recess, on the one hand there beingfolding slide parts belonging to the folding slide which extend alongthe straight sections of the roof cutout and which are movable towardsthe roof cutout, and on the other hand there being folding slide partswhich are allocated to the corner areas of the roof cutout and which aremovable towards the straight edges of the roof cutout at an angle ofapprox. 45°. To prevent the filling slide parts on the one hand and/orthe folding slide parts on the other hand from obstructing each otherduring the folding procedures, the filling slide parts and/or foldingslide parts should at least be movable independently of each other inparallel to the plane of the roof cutout. It is understood thatappropriate drives are allocated to the filling slide parts and foldingslide parts.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention,its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses,reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter inwhich a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view and partially a top view on the device beingthe subject of this invention, wherein the left and right half of thisfigure reflect different function positions;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view in direction I-II through the objectaccording to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is another sectional view showing a function position of theobject according to FIG. 2, in conformity with the representation of theleft half of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is another sectional view showing a function position of theobject according to FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings in particular, the device shown is providedfor folding of edges of roof cutouts for sliding roofs of motor vehiclebodies (coachworks). The vehicle body has got an outer metal plate 1with a upwardly projecting flange 2 limiting the roof cutout and aninner metal plate 3 with a flange 4 bearing on it. Flange 2 of the outermetal plate 1 is wider than flange 4 of the inner metal plate 3 (seeFIGS. 2, 3 and 4).

The device is furthermore comprised of a folding bed 5 serving assupport for a periphery area of the outer metal plate 1 and a peripheryarea of the inner metal plate 3 arranged upon it. The folding bed 5 hasgot a recess 6 corresponding to the roof cutout. Located in this recess6 in the direction of arrow 7 and movable by a drive not shown in thefigures there is a ring-shaped abutment 8. The ring-shaped abutment 8 isfor the flange 2 of the outer metal plate 1 and the flange 4 of innermetal plate 3 to rest against it.

Arranged above the folding bed 5 is a multiple-part filling slide withfilling slide parts 9. The filling slide parts 9 are movable in thedirection of arrows 10 by drives not shown here. The filling slide parts9 extend along the straight edges of the roof cutout up and into thecorner areas of the roof cutout, terminating at the side areas 11extending at an angle of 45° so that flanges 2 and/or 4 are also heldand/or there is restraint in the corner areas of the roof cutout betweenthe filling slide parts 9 and the abutment 8. The filling slide parts 9moreover have got an edge strip 12 at the side of the roof cutout. Theupper side 13 of the edge strip 12 is flush with the upper edge offlange 4 of inner metal plate 3 so that the upper side 13 forms afolding abutment.

In the area of the recess 6 and above recess 6 there is multiple-partfolding slide with folding slide parts 14 extending along the straightsections of the edges of the roof cutout and which are movable by drivesnot shown here in the direction of arrows 15. On the other hand thefolding slide is composed of folding slide parts 16 which are allocatedto the corner areas of the roof cutout and which are movable bynon-shown drives in the direction of arrows 17 at an angle of 45°towards the straight edges of the roof section. The folding slide parts14 and 16 are moreover movable by non-shown drives orthogonally to theplane of the roof cutout in the direction of arrow 18 (FIG. 4). Besidesthe folding slide parts 14, 16 are equipped with a folding strip 19 eachat their undersides.

The device shown works as follows: the outer metal plate 1 is laid ontothe folding bed 5 so that a flange 2 defining the roof cutout is mainlyflush with the recess 6. The abutment 8 may already have been movedupwardly or be moved upwardly subsequently. Then the inner metal plate 3is so laid onto the outer metal plate 1 that its flange 4 rests againstflange 2 of the outer metal plate 1. Then the filling slide parts 9 aremoved in the direction of arrows 10 against flanges 2,4 so that theflanges 2,4 are restrained between abutment 8 and the filling slideparts 9. The folding slide parts 14, 16 are located above recess 6 andin the layout shown here they rest with their folding strips 19 on theupper side of abutment 8 (FIG. 2). Then the folding slide parts 14, 16are moved by the drives allocated to them outwardly in the direction ofarrows 15, 17, thus folding the flange section 20 projecting beyondflange 4 of inner metal plate 3 by approximately 90° on the upper side13 of the edge strip 12 of the filling slide parts 9 (FIG. 3).

In a further work step shown in FIG. 4 the filling slide parts 9 aremoved back in the direction of arrow 10, that means in the layout shownhere roughly by the width of folding strips 19. Then the folding slideparts 14 are moved downwardly in the direction of arrow 18, folding theprojecting flange sections 20 of the outer metal plate 1 closely aroundflange 4 of the inner metal plate 3.

In the layout shown here an area 21 of abutment 8 directed towardsrecess 6 forms a guide for allocated areas 22 of the folding slide parts14, 16.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed in detail to illustrate the application of the principles ofthe invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodiedotherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for folding the edges of roof cutoutsfor motor vehicle sliding roofs in which the vehicle body has an outerand an inner metal plate, each with an upwardly projecting flangelimiting the roof cutout wherein the flange of the outer metal plate iswider than the flange of the inner metal plate, the device comprising:afolding bed providing support for the outer metal plate and the innermetal plate bearing on the outer metal plate; an abutment positionableagainst the flange of the outer metal plate and the flange of the innermetal plate resting against the flange of the outer metal plate; afilling slide movable against the abutment and/or flanges; and amultiple-part folding slide with folding slide parts which are movableboth in parallel to a plane of the roof cutout and orthogonally to theplane of the roof cutout, said folding slide parts having folding stripseach to engage and fold a section of the flange of the outer metal plateprojecting over flange of the inner metal plate.
 2. The device accordingto claim 1, wherein the folding bed has a recess corresponding to a roofcutout and said abutment is a ring-shaped abutment located in saidrecess.
 3. The device according to claim 1 wherein said abutment isorthogonally movable to the plane of the roof cutout.
 4. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein said filling slide includes a plurality offilling slide parts movable in parallel to the plane of the roof cutout.5. The device according to claim 4, wherein said filling slide parts arelocated along the straight edges of the roof cutout and are each movabletowards the roof cutout.
 6. The device according to claim 4, whereinsaid filling slide parts extend along straight edges up and into cornerareas of the roof section and have side areas at least in some areaswhich are arranged at an angle of about 45°.
 7. The device according toclaim 4, wherein said filling slide parts have an edge strip at the sideof the roof cutout serving as a folding abutment for the folding stripsof said folding slide parts.
 8. The device according to claim 1, whereinsaid folding slide parts are located in an area of and above saidrecess.
 9. The device according to claim 1, wherein said folding slideincludes a first set of folding slide parts which extend along straightsections of edges of the roof cutout and which are movable each towardsthe roof cutout, and said folding slide includes a second set of foldingslide parts allocated to corner areas of the roof cutout and which aremovable at an angle of about 45° to the straight edges of the roofcutout.
 10. The device according to claim 1, wherein said filling slideincludes filling slide parts, and wherein one of said filling slideparts and said folding slide parts are at least movable independently ofeach other in parallel to the plane of the roof cutout.
 11. The deviceaccording to claim 2 wherein said abutment is orthogonally movable tothe plane of the roof cutout.
 12. A device for folding the edge of acutout in first and second plates, each plate having a periphery areaand a flange limiting the cutout, each flange having an inner sidefacing the cutout and an outer side facing away from the cutout, thedevice comprising:a folding bed providing support for the periphery areaof the first plate, and the periphery area of the second plate bearingon the periphery area of the first plate; an abutment positionableagainst the inner side of the flange of the first plate with the innerside of the flange of the second plate resting against the outer side ofthe flange of the first plate; a filling slide movable against the outerside of the flange of the second plate; a multiple-part folding slidewith folding slide parts which are movable both substantially parallelto a plane of the cutout and orthogonally to the plane of the cutout,each of said folding slide parts having folding strips to engage andfold a section of the flange of the first plate over and around theflange of the second plate with the outer side of the flange of thefirst plate pressed against the outer side of the flange of the secondplate.
 13. The device according to claim 12, wherein:said folding slideincludes a first set of folding slide parts extending along straightsections of edges of the cutout and which are movable towards thecutout, and said folding slide includes a second set of folding slideparts allocated to corner areas of the cutout and which are movable atan angle of substantially 45° to the straight edges of the cutout. 14.The device in accordance with claim 12, wherein:the plates are inner andouter metal plates of a roof of a motor vehicle; the cutout is a roofcutout for a sliding roof.